G&M Private Collection Banff 1975
$6,699.99
An absolute stunner from a distillery that sadly did not survive the Great Distillery Culling of 1983. It's been more than a couple of years since we've had a bottling from the closed Banff Distillery in the store. Distilled in 1975, the whisky was matured 46 years in a Refill American Oak Hogshead before bottling at 48.6%. Only 102 bottles have been released as part of the Gordon & MacPhail Recollection Series. 91.57pts Whiskybase
Jack Ryan 12 Year Old
$124.99
This whiskey is a tribute to 100 years of the Ryan Family at their famous Beggars Bush pub on Haddington Road, in Dublin’s Ballsbridge. Bottled at 46%, this 12 year old Irish single malt is sourced from casks produced at the Cooley distillery. Matured in Ex-Bourbon barrels.
About the Producer: "There’s been a pub on the site for at least 200 years. Thomas Ryan became proprietor in 1913, the eve of World War and of Ireland’s independence. He was a traditional vintner and whiskey man – sourcing, maturing, finishing and bottling his own Ryan’s Malt, a firm favourite among discerning locals in The Bush and the other Ryan houses.
"Thomas handed on the pub, and Ryan’s Malt, to his son Jack, born to the trade. Jack maintained the whiskey tradition into the ’40’s, when the near demise of the whole Irish whiskey business forced a pause.
"The Ryans still own and run The Bush, and have revived the family’s whiskey tradition. The Jack Ryan Beggars Bush 12 Year Old Single Malt won an Irish Whiskey Award in 2014. The Centenary 15 Year Old Single Barrel Cask Strength was released in 2015, and more small batches of premium single malts are planned; watch out for the Jack Ryan 15 Year Old Single Malt – The Bourdega."
Pegasus Bay Sauvignon Blanc
$40.99
Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon make terrific blending partners. The tart and cheek pinching characteristics of the Sauvignon are tamed by the round and mellow flavors of the Semillon generally increasing the richness of the wine. This white, from the Canterbury region of NZ, offers aromas of passionfruit, melon and gooseberry. These are supported by savoury hints of roast capsicum (pepper) and aubergine. It is rich and concentrated in the mouth but retains a tight-knit, refined structure with a zesty, dry, crisp finish. Enjoy this charmer with grilled prawns, pasta and seafood, or grilled oysters.
Lopez de Heredia Vina Tondonia Reserva
$98.99
Lopez de Heredia is a family-run Spanish producer based in Rioja and regarded as one of the world’s greatest wine estates. It was founded in 1877 by Don Rafael Lopez de Heredia y Landeta. Four generations of the Lopez de Heredia family have devoted themselves to upholding their 140-year tradition of producing exceptional wines.
Tondonia, the winery’s most famous vineyard and product, was established between 1913 and 1914. It extends over 250 acres on the right bank of the River Ebro. In addition to Tondonia, the estate owns three vineyards (Cubillo, Bosconia, and Zaconia) covering a total area of 420 hectares. The soil is alluvial clay with a high proportion of limestone. Lopez de Heredia winery is the oldest in Haro and one of the first three houses in the Rioja region. They use completely natural and traditional methods of winemaking and their grapes are sourced exclusively from their own vineyards. They use typical Rioja varieties to produce the best wines: Tempranillo, Garnacha, Graciano and Mazuelo for reds, Viura and Malvasia for whites. The winery’s commitment to tradition is evident in their 131-year history of using American oak. They continue to have their own cooperage, making them the only bodega in Spain to hand-craft all the barrels used to age their wines.
Malibu Coconut Rum 750mL
$31.99
Malibu Coconut Rum
21% ABV
Redbreast 15 Year Irish Whiskey
$164.99
The Redbreast 15 year Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey is aged in ex-Bourbon Casks and ex-Oloroso Sherry Casks and bottled at 46% ABV.
What is Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey you ask? It is whiskey made using a combination of malted and unmalted barley. Why do this you ask? Why, to dodge unfair taxation, of course! The Malt Tax came into being in Ireland for a short time starting in 1785, enforced by the (insert expletive said in your best Irish accent here) English. The Irish, being Irish, decided that they didn't need to use malted barley for the entirety of the mash used to distill whiskey and started adding portions of unmalted barley. Necessity being the mother of invention, this eventually became a legitimate style of whiskey-making that is now not just celebrated but codified into law in Ireland with the Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey classification.
Monkey Shoulder Blended Malt Scotch
$61.99
This Blended Malt Scotch Whisky is produced by William Grant & Sons, owners of Glenfiddich, Balvenie, and Kininvie distilleries. Monkey shoulder is a blend of the three malts bottled at 43%.
About Monkey Shoulder: One day, our legendary Malt Master David Stewart decided to create the world’s first 'triple' malt, by combining single malts from three of Speyside’s finest distilleries. Why's it so mellow?: Well, for starters, there’s not a single drop of grain whisky in our Monkey Shoulder, and the chosen malts mature in first fill ex-bourbon casks. Our own coopers repair these ex-bourbon casks so that they impart a smooth and mellow vanilla flavour into the resting malt whisky. And then, there's Brian Kinsman who's our new Master now. He always chooses the right combination of casks for every batch he makes, ensuring each one is deliciously smooth and rich as the last. The three Speyside malts are then blended together in a small marrying tun where they hang out making eyes at each other for anything from three to six months.
What is Monkey Shoulder?: The term 'monkey shoulder' harks back to our whisky making heritage. It’s a reference to a condition that maltmen sometimes picked up while working long shifts, turning the barley by hand. It had a tendency to cause their arm to hang down a bit like a monkey’s, so they nicknamed it 'monkey shoulder'.
Kilchoman Sanaig
$109.99
The Kilchoman Sanaig was featured on Day Ten of our 2022 KWM Whisky Calendar. You can find the blog post on it here.
Also available in 50ml / Mini bottles
The Sanaig is part of Kilchoman's regular release lineup along with the Machir Bay. Kilchoman Sanaig, which is named after an Inlet off the NorthWest coast of Islay, is made from a combination of about 20% ex-Bourbon casks and 80% ex-Sherry Casks - mostly Oloroso Sherry in style. We have noticed the colour on this dram has gotten a fair bit darker over the past few years - possibly due to more first-fill ex-Sherry casks being used... Bottled at 46%.
From the Distillery
"Sanaig, a small rocky inlet North West of the distillery is the name given to this continuously available release. Sanaig has a predominantly sherry cask influence owing to the significant time spent in oloroso sherry Hogsheads. These aged oloroso casks contribute a drastically transformed depth of colour and character compared to the mostly Bourbon cask matured Machir Bay. “A beautiful marriage of bourbon and sherry maturation balanced with classic Islay peat smoke and light citrus sweetness” Anthony Wills, Founder.
Paltrinieri Piria Lambrusco di Sorbara
$26.99
A fun, dry, fizzy wine from Italy's Emilia-Romagna region! This red sparkling wine is called Lambrusco, and it's fantastic served chilled with a plate of smoky barbecued ribs or some charcuterie. From a family-owned winery near Modena that has been making great wines for more than three generations. Bracing acidity and cranberry notes make this one stand out.